Electrolytic cell



wm.. 26, M320 LA FAYETTE D. VORCE Lmzfmg ELECTROLYTIC CELL Filed Sept.14, 1929 mi w TR Maw? retenue Jan. 26, 1932 .UNITED STATES PATENT..OFFICE; 1

h. FYETTE D. 'VOBCE OIE' MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, .ASSIGNOR TO WESTVACOmmm PRODUCTS, INC., 0F N'EW' YORK, N

@INM

Y.; A. GORPORATION OF WEST mnc'rnonymic cam'.

v Application lcd September 14, 1929. Serial No. 392,627.

the cathode, the Weight oi' the cathode, dia-- phragm, anodes and coverresting on the bottom el the cell and a gas-tight sealot the lll covermember vvith the casing being secured by a recessed plastic joint; allas more fully hereinafter set lorth and as claimed.

@elle out the so-called cylindrical type are largely used Atheelectrolysis ot salt solullll tion to produce soda and chlorin. Cellunits el this type have a round or rectangular cathode et punchedorperforated steel; this cathode carrying a diaphragm, usually asbestosrthe cathode yis mounted Within a steel casing delining a cathodechamber, While thev anode chamber containing the anolyte, is Within anddehned by the dia phragm and cathode. At the top, the cathodecompartment is closed by an annular top member'resting on and supportedby a Harige ol the casing. 'llheanode rods depend from and are carriedby a cover resting on this top member. 'lhus the Weight ol thev anode,cathode and anolyte is carried on the top llange ot 'the casing. Thishas certain mechanical and operating disadvantages.

lt is the Lpurpose of the present invention to simplily and cheapen thisconstruction and produce a stronger and mechanically better structure.Certain advantages in operation are also obtained. ln the presentinvention ll employ the usual outer casing and contained shell olperforated sheet'metalacting as cathode and carrying a diaphragm, theshell and casing dehning a cathode chamber betvveen them and the anodechamber being vvithin the diaphragml cathode shell. But instead ofsuspending the interior parts or lltl lill the casing, the Weight ofthese elements rests the cell from an annular flange on the top of onthe bottom of the casin In practice I form a bottom for the cathogleshell by a base member of concrete While I provide ythe top ofthe casingwith a two-part cover member, also oi` concrete or other suitableinsulating material fitting inside the top edges of thev casing. Thecover member comprises both a cathode ring and an anode ring and isprovided With a recessed llange extending nearly to the casing, with aplastic mastic composition Within the recess making a as tight vjunctionwith the casing. The Weig t ofthe anode and the cover member instead ofrest-l ing upon the top of the outer casing is supported by the cathodeshell whose concrete bottom is upon the bottom of the cell. Thearrangement Vof the cell elements as above outlined constitutesasimplied construction lowering the expense of installation, lesseningthe maintenance requirements and improving the processof operation.

ln the accompan ing illustration'I have" shown, more or lessiagrammatically, an embodimentof the present invention. Infthis showingthe view is a central vertical section ol a complete cell. n"

As lshown element l is a tan'lrlilre casing of sheet metah open at thetop and havin'ga bottom 2. This casing may vbe round or rectangular butis shown as circular. Withf V.inthe casing is a base plate 3 Which isbest made of concrete material and carries a vertical shell 4 ofperforated or punched metal. Steel is ordinarily used. The shell carriesvthe usual asbestos diaphragm 5. This shell in operation forms thecathode. v`At its top it carries annular top lmembery 6 of specialconcrete.v Resting, on this annular member is the top 'l' of the anodechamber, this top serving to carry 'depending anodes 8 foi graphite orother usual material. Anode carrier? may also be of concrete. Itis'pro-' vided with adomed top. Through this dome enters chlorinoutletpipe 9. The bottom of the annulus 6 is recessed at 10 to take thetop of the diaphragm. Peripherally; element 6 is provided with alaterally extending recessed flange llgadapted tov seat against and`make a joint with casing 1 by'means of a mastic'composition 14. The cellis provided with the usual brine feed.1l2 and gas outlet cathode shell,the weight of the .cathode,.d1a 13 for hydrogen. phragm, cover andanodes restmg upon the The cell shown may be operated in any .of ottomof the.ce 1l'. I f the usual ways.- The cathode chamber mayamndtestlmny-twhl'wf, have hereunto 5 contain cathol te or oil. e vmySlgIla llle- 70 Thereis material advantage inlsupporting. LA FAYETTE DVORCE the anode andthe anode chamberltop, as V I.

above described, upon the bottom of the cell instead of upon a flangedtop. vIn 'particular, the arrangement constitutes'a simplified 75'construction and permits a gas tight ltop requiring but little repairand facilitating re1- pair when necessary. When both the b ottom'of thecathode shell and the top cover 15 member are` made of `concrete theexternal' 80 vinsulation between anode and cathode is materiallyimproved. The construction affords a simplified solution of theproblemfof keeping the cathode'hydrogen from mixing 2 with theanodechlorin. f

1. An electrolytic cell, an open topped casing forming a cathode chamberwith an ori` V:liced metal shell within the casing` and resting on itsbottom, said shell servingas a cathode and being laterally spaced fromthe walls of thecasing, a diaphragm in the shell, an interior chamberwithin the diaphragm, anodes/ in said interior chamber and atWOy 3 partcover member for Athe. cell fitting inside A the top edges of saidcasing with a plastic gas tight lioint between said member and thecasing, said member' supporting the anodes 'and beingI attached to thecathode shell, the 35 -weight of the cathode,diaphragm, cover and anodesresting'upon the bottom of the cell.

. y2. In an electrolytic cell, an open topped cylindrical casing .havingstraight vertical sides, a contained perforated metalcylindri- ,05

n cal cathode carrying and ,enclosing a dia-v phragm, a bottom memberfor said cathode supported upon the bottom of the cell and a topcircular peripherally'anged cover member for the cell inserted withinvthe cylindrical 4.5 casing and supported b'yfthe cathode and sup-v 0 5porting-a plurality of 'ano'des within said enclosed diaphragm, both`'said members being of concrete construction and the flange of saidcover member having `a recess, with plastic material in the recessmaking a gas tight joint vwith the casing. 3. An lectrolytic cellcomprising an open topped, strai,f ghtsided, cylindrical casing vforming a .cathode vchamber with an oriced 55 cylindrical metal shellwithin the casing and resting onits bottom, said shell serving asacathode and being laterally spaced from the walls of'the casing, adiaphragm in the shell defining an interior chamber within the dia- .60phragm, anodes in said interior chamber and 12? a twoart circular covermember for the l cell fittmg insidevthe top edge of said casmg Iwith-'afplastic gas-tight, joint between said VYimemberand the casin,said member sup-- '13d ,05 porting the anodes and ing. attached to the

